Bennett University ties up with edX for online courses

Bennett University has collaborated with edX to offer Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and online learning to its students, a top official said here on Friday.

The edx is the online learning initiative founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the US.

Bennett University through its parent company, the Times Group, will work closely with edX and its consortium of global universities to increase access to high quality online education for Indian learners throughout the country.

Similarly, edX will Bennett University explore and test innovative approaches to learning, and support and train its faculty as they create and offer next-generation online and blended learning courses. edX chief executive officer Anant Agarwal will serve as an advisor to Bennett University.

"At edX we are committed to offering high quality education around the world, and India is an important and growing market for us," Agarwal said.

"We are certain that Bennett University will be instrumental in extending learning opportunities to learners who lack access to education and high quality resources," he added at the signing ceremony on Friday.

Bennett University chancellor Vineet Jain, who is also the Times Group managing director, described edX as "an industry leader and a global bridge that connects aspiring learners with a world-class learning platofmr and high quality education".

"With this tie-up, our objective is to increase access to education in India without compromising on the quality. We are confident that with the expert guidance from edX, we will unlock and explore more advanced approaches to learning," Jain said.

India is home to the largest population of edX learners outside of the US with about 700,000 learners from India.

The edX is a non-profit, open-source learning destination offering online courses from more than 95 member institutions, including global universities, colleges and a diverse group of prominent organisations around the world.

Founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and based in Cambridge,Massachusetts, US, edX is focused on transforming online and classroom learning through ground-breaking methodologies, game-like educational experiences and cutting-edge research on an open-source platform.

The Times Group's Bennett University launches in July this year (2016) with the promise of getting students "life and career ready".

Supported by research-driven faculty, global academic partnerships and a well-rounded industry-centric curriculum, the university will prepare students to compete and prosper in a rapidly transforming world.

Located in Greater Noida, Delhi's suburb in Uttar Pradesh, Bennett University will initially offer a B.Tech in Engineering (with specialisations in computer science engineering, electronics & communications, and mechanical engineering), and an MBA in management.